My 2011 Resolution

My resolution this year was to simplify my life and home while creating beauty and serenity within both. I have come to the realization that to accomplish these things, you must first create chaos. You move things around, stir up the dust (and dog hair), push things from one room into another, and work your way through.

We have lived in our present home for just over 9 years. The first time in almost 25 years of marriage that we have stayed in one place that length of time. Our 2 children, now adults at ages 21 and 23 have moved out and we find that a 2-story/4 bedroom, 2900+ sf house is just too big, empty of kids and their friends. We used to complain that they used the house as a sort of Grand Central Station, but now it's so quiet, with echoes when we speak, and 3 empty bedrooms.

Also, as we have passed the 50 year age mark, we are increasingly finding that it is so much harder to climb the stairs, come down the stairs, carry laundry up and down, let alone carry furniture or new purchases up the stairs. Add to that the fact that I have had 3 surgeries on my right knee, 2 surgeries on my neck, and back surgery, and you can imagine how much more difficult it is becoming. So downsizing is a real possibility in the near future. But first we must make this home appealing to others as well as ourselves.

I started painting 2 weeks after we moved into this house. I so wanted to make my mark on it, to make it ours. I don't think there was any such thing as blogs at that time, though if there were, I wouldn't have know what they were. So any home improvements or decorating attempts I tried were trial and error.

I have painted most rooms in the house at least twice, but the family room/kitchen have more than 5 coats of paint (again, trial and error); enough that my husband swore the room was getting smaller.

He tries to help sometimes, but most often I have to do things myself. I have done all the painting in my home, without his help. He is, though, capable of putting up light fixtures and ceiling fans, replacing toilets and sinks, etc. So we each have our place in this adventure: making this house or any place we live, our home.

I invite you to follow along as I make many mistakes, a few good choices, and achieve my goals one step at a time. And please feel free to make any comments or give advice. Thanks!

Edna